When I woke up, I felt a pain in the back of my head and I noticed that I wasn't in the hallway anymore. I was now at the infirmary.
I wondered if anyone had come to see me, so I look to my right, and I saw my dad giving me a relieved look.
"Rise and shine, sleepyhead."
"What the... Dad? Why did you come to school? Shouldn't you be at work right now?" I gave my dad with a confused look on my face. Hoping that he didn't skip out work just for me.
"Well... The reason why I'm here is because I got a call from your school. And yes, I should be at work, but my boss let me go so I could visit you."
"Oh... Well, it's a surprise that the school called you. I never expected them to do that." I said while slowly sat up from the bed.
"Yep. They told me that you hit your head really hard and recommended that I should take you home. But... I know you well enough to know better." My dad says, giving me a smile that makes him look like he's saying that he's proud of me which also made me smile.
For a while, we were both quiet, just enjoying each other's company. My dad gets up from his seat, and he stretches his body. Once he finishes, he looks down at me and says...
"Alright, you think you can get up, Hiro? Or do you need help getting up?"
"I-I'm fine, dad. I don't need help. But... Thanks for the offer." I say while turning my body to my right, and I carefully get up from the bed.
My dad nods his head quietly, and he slowly walks towards the entrance to the infirmary.
"Alright, then. Let's get going. I'll walk you to class."
I nod my head in response and walk out the door with my dad.
Once we left the infirmary and entered the school's hallways, we were both silent as we continued to walk.
—————————————————————————————————
My dad and I continued to walk down the hallways in silence. From time to time, we both gave each other awkward side-eyes and quick glances. It was honestly the weirdest situation I've been in a while.
Because of how we were both quiet, I began thinking about Gotoh-San. I wondered if she wanted to be my friend or not.
Would... Would Gotoh-San really want to be friends with some lonely weirdo like me? I mean, I'm really socially awkward, a-and I don't even know how to respond to something so simple when talking to a person... N-No, I can't just start making assumptions. I've got to know more about her first.
My dad noticed that I was thinking to myself, and he finally knew what to talk about with me and how to start the conversation.
First, he cleared his throat and put both of his hands behind his head. Then, he said...
"So, kiddo... Anything on your mind right now? Like, absolutely anything?"
I pause for a second, and I start to think of a response so I could hopefully continue the conversation with my dad.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that, Dad."
My dad gave me a smile after getting a response from me, and replied with...
"Hm, okay. So what exactly are you thinking about? You don't have to answer me if you don't want to-"
"Don't worry about it, dad. Of course I'd answer your question. I just... Don't know how to say it." I say with a slight look of guilt and shame.
"Hey it's fine, it's perfectly fine. Just take all the time you need." My dad says while smiling reassuringly at me.
I nod my head as I look away from him and start to think about how to tell my dad that I made my first friend. I wanted to think about it deeply, but not to the point where I would get lost in my own thoughts.
After a few seconds passed, I finally came up with a way to tell my dad about it. I looked back at him with a confident expression.
"Alright, dad. So, remember what you wanted me to do this morning? You told me to try to make a few friends."
"Uhh... Yeah, I remember that. Why do you ask?"
"I asked you because I've got some great news for you! I've... Well, I'm not really sure if I'm right, but... I guess I could say I made my first friend."
My dad pauses for a moment and stops smiling, then he starts to smile again after hearing what I told him.
"Hah, I knew you could do it, kiddo. I'm proud of ya." We both smiled proudly at each other and then gave each other a high five.
"So, how do they look? What's their name? I wanna know everything." My dad says with a calm voice, but I could tell that he was excited to listen to me talk about Gotoh-San.
"Well... My new friend's name is Gotoh Hitori. She has this nice soft pink hair, and she also has these aqua colored eyes and they're just... Well, I don't really know how to say-"
"Amazing? Beautiful? Maybe even flattering? I know where you're coming from, kiddo. I felt just like that when I met first met your mom." My dad smirks at me while crossing his arms.
"What? Why the heck are you relating this moment to when you..."
I pause for a second to get what my dad just told me through my thick head. When I finally understood what he meant to say, I began to blush and give my dad a mad expression.
"Oh come on. Seriously, dad!? I'm not gonna fall love with anybody, and that's official! Plus, I don't even think that Gotoh-San wants to be my friend!"
"Hahah, okay, okay. If you say so, then I'll believe you. But remember this... If you never try, then you'll never know."
"If you never try... Then you'll never know... Hm..."
After listening to my dad, I calm myself down and my blush quickly disappears. But I didn't know what else to say or talk about with him, so I went back to being quiet.
But only a few seconds later, my dad looks at me and stops walking. I stop with him and gave him a concerned look.
"Dad, what's up? Is there... Anything wrong?"
"We're here. This is your stop."
I look to my left, and the door to my class is closed. I look back at my dad and I smile at him.
"Alright then, I guess I'll be heading in. I'll see you after school, dad."
"Yeah, I'll see you later, kiddo."
Then, my dad holds his hand up and gestures to dap him up. I happily dap him up, and he pulls me in for a hug.
"I love you, Hiro. Don't forget that."
"Yeah... I know you do. I'll Never Forget."
We both let go of each other, and we both wave goodbye to each other. My dad walks down the hallway, leaving me alone.
I turn to my right and slowly opened the door. I looked around the classroom through the crack in it and I made sure not to make any noise. I could only see my homeroom teacher who quickly noticed me through the crack.
I backed away from the door and closed it quickly.
How the hell did the Teach even see me through the door?
"You don't you need to hide, Hayasaka. Just come in."
Without responding, I open the door and walk straight to my desk with haste. When I arrive at my desk, I quickly sit down and put my hood up.
I look down at my desk, and then back up to see the rest of the room. Everyone was looking at me.
Seeing most of my classmates looking at me is absolutely terrifying... They're probably looking down on me right now... But that doesn't matter! They'll eventually forget about me...
Then I look to my right and look at Gotoh-San, hoping that she won't notice I was staring at her.
And once class is over, hopefully I can be able to talk to Gotoh-San again. I really want to know her more...
—————————————————————————————————
The last bell for the day finally rang. Everyone left the classroom except for me, Gotoh-San, and two other girls I didn't know about. She was asleep while I had to pack up a lot of stuff before walking out the door.
Gahh... Finally, school's over... Now it's time to go...
I looked at the two other girls walking out the door, and they were talking about hanging out together at a karaoke bar.
"Hey, wanna karaoke after this?"
"Great idea!"
"You sure?"
"Wonder what I should sing..."
After listening to their conversation, I thought about hanging out with Gotoh-San now that school was over. But then I thought...
No no no no no, Gotoh-San wouldn't want to hang out with someone like me, would she? I mean come on! She's completely out of my league!
She probably and definitely plays the electric guitar which is literally better than an acoustic guitar! And she probably has better playing skills than I do which is like a big difference!!
No, it's not a big difference... It's actually a HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!
I look to my right again and see that Gotoh-San wasn't awake yet. I sigh as if all hope has been lost, and I slowly walk over to her desk. Then, I look down at the desk to her left and take a seat next to her.
And I thought to myself again...
Well... You'll never try if you never know. It's what dad told me... Dad, if I succeed at this, I swear I'm going to thank you with everything I have... Even if I have to do a sacrificial ritual...
I quickly notice that Gotoh-San slowly started to wake up, and I begin to panic a bit.
Shit! Gotoh-San's almost awake! No no no, it's okay, it's okay. Just relax, Hiro... Here's the plan. Once she wakes up, greet her calmly, ask her to hang out with you, and now you're all good...
After thinking to myself about the plan, I was finally confident enough to talk to Gotoh-San again.
-Hitori's P.O.V-
When I woke up, everything was silent. I looked up from my desk and saw that everyone was gone. I probably slept through the entire class.
Oh... I-It looks like nobody's here anymore... The day is over...
"Oh! Y-You're awake!"
AAH!! W-Who said that?!
I look to my left and the first thing I saw was Hiroko smiling at me menacingly.
"Good afternoon, Gotoh-San. How was your rest?"
I tried responding to Hiroko, but because I haven't talked to anyone in such a long time, I couldn't speak. And my voice ended up sounding raspy and incoherent...
I-I haven't talked to anyone in so long... My voice!
"I get it, you don't know what to say. I-It's okay, Gotoh-San. You don't have to answer my question if you want."
W-Wait, did Hiroko-Kun really tell me that I don't have to respond? Ahh... He's a life saver... I wouldn't be able to talk anyway...
"But, there is something that I've been wanting to ask you."
Gah! I guess I was wrong!
"But like I said, you don't have to answer with your voice if you don't want to. Just nod your head or something if you don't feel comfortable with talking."
I nodded my head and I started to feel more calm now that I didn't have to talk.
"Okay, so, uh... Do you mind if I just... Can I stay by your side for a little while, Gotoh-San? I don't really like being alone. Well, as a matter of fact, I never really liked being alone for a long time."
And then I could hear him say underneath his breath...
"It's something that makes me weak..."
Then he looked down at the desk with a look of shame for admitting that he doesn't like being alone. He really was just like me...
I don't know what to say... What should I tell Hiroko-Kun? I want to say something to him, but I don't know what...
"Ah-... H-Hiroko-Kun... I-I don't think that's weak of you."
He looked froze in place for a second after hearing me, and then he looked back at me with widened eyes.
"H-Hold on, hold on. You... You really think so, Gotoh-San?"
Eh? Did I just... H-How did I just say that!? I-I didn't even think about saying anything!
Hiroko begins to smile again, but he covered it up with his hand. He closes his eyes while clearing his throat, and then he opened them again to look at me.
"Hm, I'll take it as a yes then. Thank you, Gotoh-San."
He gets up from his seat and quickly walked over to the door to class, and he stood there like he was waiting for me to go with him.
"Well, we should be on our way. Let's go, Gotoh-San. I can give you an escort to your house no matter how long it takes."
"Ah- R-Right."
I get up from my seat and walk towards Hiroko to follow him out the door.
Then, he opens the door for me and says...
"Uhh... Ladies first, I guess?? N-Never mind, forgot that I ever said that."
I nod my head and walked out the door and into the hallway. Hiroko-Kun followed me from behind and he didn't talk after that.
While walking through the halls of school, I began to think to myself...
Did I really go overboard hyping myself up last night?
But I was putting out such powerful rocker chick vibes...
I thought of a possible answer that could be the reason why nobody talked to me, and I stop walking forward.
D-Did I end up making myself unapproachable?!
N-No, no, no! I'm having a mental breakdown-
"G-Gotoh-San? A-Are you okay? You suddenly stopped walking, and it worried me."
And I even forgot that Hiroko-Kun was right behind me!
"Wow! Look at that!"
"At what?"
My heart suddenly skips a beat after hearing another voice coming my way, and I begin to panic.
I-If they're laughing at me now, it won't just be a mental breakdown, it'll be a mental annihilation!
I quickly turned around and ran away from the other group of people before they could see me as quick as I could while Hiroko continued to follow me.
While following me, he quietly said...
"Gotoh-San, wait up! D-Don't leave me alone with a bunch of extroverts!! They're too scary for me to deal with!"
-???'s POV-
"Aw, it's so cute, I've gotta laugh!"
"My day's immediately better!"
Guitar?
"Right, Kita-chan?"
"Kita-chan?"
"Sorry, sorry! What was it?"
——To be continued——
Hey everybody! The_Mann_N0_1_Knows here! I'm finally done with the 2nd part of chapter 1!
What sucks is... I'm going to have to make a 3rd part. So... Yeah.
Hey, I have one last thing to say: I drew some of my OCs! Take a look!
And I also made a meme about those two!
Okay! And that wraps up this chapter! I'll see you in the next one!